Zoombini's Logical Journey won't start up

I just purchased a new copy of Zoombini's Logical Journey that is supposed to work on Windows XP. I installed it, but now have trouble getting it to start up. If I do manage to get it to start, it freezes up or quits responding within a minute or two. The error I seem to get the most is "unable to open zoombini.mhk" but sometimes I just get the message that it needs to shut down and asks if I want to send microsoft an error report, which I do, but then nothing. I hope someone can help me, I love this game and really would like to be able to play it again.

How did you install it? Did you try installing it with compatibility wizard?

This was written up by a reviewer on amazon (not me):

This product can be installed under Windows XP. However, it requires the Compatability Wizard:

Installing Logical Journey of the Zoombinis® Using the Program Compatibility Wizard

Most programs designed for an earlier version of the Windows® operating system will install and run properly on Windows® XP. In some instances, however, when attempting to install such a program, various issues can occur. The information and procedure presented in this section will help you to install a program (designed for earlier versions of Windows®) by using the Program Compatibility Wizard.

NOTE: Windows® XP allows different options for viewing graphical interface. The following procedure assumes that the default Windows® XP view settings are used, rather than the Classic Start Menu View.

Uninstall the program using the Add or Remove Programs Control Panel (Steps a-c under Installing in Windows® XP). After removing the program, or if the program does not show in the Add or Remove Programs Control Panel, continue with the next step. Verify the Minimum System Requirements of the program that is to be installed. (This information will be needed as the procedure below is completed.) Close programs and return to the desktop. Insert the program (or installation) CD into the CD-ROM drive.

NOTE: If a program installation screen appears prompting you to install the program, click the selection (i.e., No, Cancel or Exit the Installation, etc.) that will cancel the installation, and return to the desktop. Click Start on the Windows® taskbar. Click All Programs, choose Accessories and select Program Compatibility Wizard. The icon appears as a question mark (?). The Program Compatibility Wizard Welcome window will open. Click Next. Click the "I want to use the program in the CD-ROM drive" radio button. Click Next. A window presenting the different Windows® Compatibility Modes will open. Click the radio button next to the desired Compatibility Mode and click Next. (Consult the Minimum System Requirements of the program that is to be installed [Step 1] for system information.) The window that appears allows for the selection of 256 Colors and/or 640 X 480 Pixel Screen Resolution.

NOTE: These display settings are not available options in Windows® XP. They are only available when running a program in Program Compatibility Mode. The only reason to choose either of these settings is if you are experiencing difficulty installing or running an older application designed to run in MS-DOS®, Windows® 3.1 or Windows® 95. If all options remain unchecked, then the current Colors and Screen Resolution settings will not be altered.

By default, Windows® XP uses visual themes that may change the appearance or behavior of other programs, especially those games or educational programs that include intensive graphics and animation. To prevent the visual themes from affecting these programs, check Disable Visual Themes.

Click Next. A window showing the heading "Test Your Compatibility Settings" will appear. In addition, the settings that you selected will appear. Verify that the settings are correct.

NOTE: If the settings are not correct, click the Back button to return to the previous screen (or screens) and make the necessary changes. With the correct settings selected and showing in the "Test Your Compatibility Settings" window, click Next. The program installation will begin. Follow the prompts to install the program. After the installation is complete, close the program to return to the Program Compatibility Wizard.

NOTE: After the program is closed, the window with the "Did the program work correctly?" question will reappear. The "Yes. Set this program to always use these compatibility settings" will be selected. If the program functioned properly using the compatibility mode that was selected in Step 11 (above), click Next-the Program Compatibility Data window will open-and continue with Step 18.

NOTE: If the program did not function correctly, uninstall the program (using the Add or Remove Programs Control Panel: Step 1) and repeat the above procedure, choosing different compatibility settings. In the window that opens, select Yes or No and click Next. The Completing the Program Compatibility Wizard window will appear. Click Finish to close the window. Launch and use the program. For questions regarding the Program Compatibility Wizard or Windows® XP (or both), contact Microsoft® or go tohttp://www.microsoft.com for additional information. How did you install it? Did you try installing it with compatibility wizard?

This was written up by a reviewer on amazon (not me):
This product can be installed under Windows XP. However, it requires the Compatability Wizard:

Installing Logical Journey of the Zoombinis® Using the Program Compatibility Wizard

Most programs designed for an earlier version of the Windows® operating system will install and run properly on Windows® XP. In some instances, however, when attempting to install such a program, various issues can occur. The information and procedure presented in this section will help you to install a program (designed for earlier versions of Windows®) by using the Program Compatibility Wizard.

NOTE: Windows® XP allows different options for viewing graphical interface. The following procedure assumes that the default Windows® XP view settings are used, rather than the Classic Start Menu View.

Uninstall the program using the Add or Remove Programs Control Panel (Steps a-c under Installing in Windows® XP). After removing the program, or if the program does not show in the Add or Remove Programs Control Panel, continue with the next step. Verify the Minimum System Requirements of the program that is to be installed. (This information will be needed as the procedure below is completed.) Close programs and return to the desktop. Insert the program (or installation) CD into the CD-ROM drive.

NOTE: If a program installation screen appears prompting you to install the program, click the selection (i.e., No, Cancel or Exit the Installation, etc.) that will cancel the installation, and return to the desktop. Click Start on the Windows® taskbar. Click All Programs, choose Accessories and select Program Compatibility Wizard. The icon appears as a question mark (?). The Program Compatibility Wizard Welcome window will open. Click Next. Click the "I want to use the program in the CD-ROM drive" radio button. Click Next. A window presenting the different Windows® Compatibility Modes will open. Click the radio button next to the desired Compatibility Mode and click Next. (Consult the Minimum System Requirements of the program that is to be installed [Step 1] for system information.) The window that appears allows for the selection of 256 Colors and/or 640 X 480 Pixel Screen Resolution.

NOTE: These display settings are not available options in Windows® XP. They are only available when running a program in Program Compatibility Mode. The only reason to choose either of these settings is if you are experiencing difficulty installing or running an older application designed to run in MS-DOS®, Windows® 3.1 or Windows® 95. If all options remain unchecked, then the current Colors and Screen Resolution settings will not be altered.

By default, Windows® XP uses visual themes that may change the appearance or behavior of other programs, especially those games or educational programs that include intensive graphics and animation. To prevent the visual themes from affecting these programs, check Disable Visual Themes.

Click Next. A window showing the heading "Test Your Compatibility Settings" will appear. In addition, the settings that you selected will appear. Verify that the settings are correct.

NOTE: If the settings are not correct, click the Back button to return to the previous screen (or screens) and make the necessary changes. With the correct settings selected and showing in the "Test Your Compatibility Settings" window, click Next. The program installation will begin. Follow the prompts to install the program. After the installation is complete, close the program to return to the Program Compatibility Wizard.

NOTE: After the program is closed, the window with the "Did the program work correctly?" question will reappear. The "Yes. Set this program to always use these compatibility settings" will be selected. If the program functioned properly using the compatibility mode that was selected in Step 11 (above), click Next-the Program Compatibility Data window will open-and continue with Step 18.

NOTE: If the program did not function correctly, uninstall the program (using the Add or Remove Programs Control Panel: Step 1) and repeat the above procedure, choosing different compatibility settings. In the window that opens, select Yes or No and click Next. The Completing the Program Compatibility Wizard window will appear. Click Finish to close the window. Launch and use the program. For questions regarding the Program Compatibility Wizard or Windows® XP (or both), contact Microsoft® or go to http://www.microsoft.com for additional information.

Tried all that has been written. Still does not install. It asks to install direct x and when you say OK, it says direct x did not install. You have to reinstall the program again. Even though direct x is already on the comp. So why does the program ask for direct x? This is where it gets stuck..Tried all that has been written. Still does not install. It asks to install direct x and when you say OK, it says direct x did not install. You have to reinstall the program again. Even though direct x is already on the comp. So why does the program ask for direct x? This is where it gets stuck..

3 Answers

If the program produces an error right after hitting the Play button, I had success by launching the file Zoombinis Logical Journey.exe in compatability mode using Window 98 / ME and 640 x 480 resolution. The shortcut that is created during install points to TLCRUN.EXE which was what caused my error.

I call BS on the answers unless the users above have a reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaly old PC from 2002. On newer computers you can't even get to the install stage as it will say something about contacting your vendor.

I managed to get a Mindscape 2002 edition of Zoombinis Maths Journey to work on Windows 8 using the following method:
1) Install the game as prompted when you insert the disk.
2) Go into This PC (this is on the side panel if you just open up my documents), then Windows 8 (under devices and drives), program files (x86), the learning company, zoombinis maths journey
3) Inside the zoombinis maths journey folder, there is an application called zoombinis maths journey. Right click on it, select properties and go onto the compatibility tab.
4) The settings I use (others may also work) are: run this program in compatibility mode for Windows 98, reduced colour mode 16 bit colour, run in 640X480 screen resolution, disable display scaling, run this program as an administrator. Press apply in the bottom right.of the tab.
5) Then double click on the zoombinis maths journey application (ie: the thing you were just changing the compatibility settings for in step 4) and the game should hopefully play. Note that it does not seem to play if you press play on the screen that comes up when you load the disc, so you have to use the method described in the previous sentence when you want to start the game.

1 Suggested Answer

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You should upgrade your computer to XP, ME is a horrible version unfortunately. It is about 150$ for a copy of xp and then you will have a copy forever. The printer unfortunately will not work with Millenium.thanks,Lee

Right click on the executable file that starts the setup, typically setup.exe. Select Properties. Under Compatibility, set it to Windows XP SP3. If that doesn't work, it really won't work without you setting up a virtual machine and installing a copy of XP. If you're running Windows 7, you can download a Windows XP virtual machine to run. It's called XP Mode. Instructions can be found by searching for XP Mode in the Start menu's Help and Support.

well, i thought that windows 7 would have been developed to be compatible with ALL of the previous systems and programs that they were compatible with. as it is, windows 7 DOES have a way in the control panel that helped me out... there's actually a link in the control panel called "run programs made for previous versions of windows" it took a few tries to get the right setup for the game, but it's pretty self explanatory. sometimes it takes a couple of tries to start it up, but now i CAN play Zoombinis on my windows 7 pc.

Yes, you have to purchase a new copy of Windows XP... Or alternatively you can try a freeware operating system such as UBUNTU. It does basically the same stuff your Windows did, just with a little more flair!
http://www.ubuntu.com/